Rug-display rack.



G. J. KEPKE.- RUG DISPLAY RACK.

APPLIOATION FILED NOV-18,1908.

Patehted May 11, 1909.

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GEORGE JAY K-EPKE, OF BELLEFONTATNE, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO PERRY C.

. i DOWELL, OF BELLEFONTAINE, OHIO.

RUG-DISPLAY RACK.

Specification of Letters Fatent,

Patented May 1 1,v 1909.

Application filed November 18, 1908. SerialNo. 463,206.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Bellefontaine, in the county of Logan and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rug-Display Racks, of which-the'following is a specification. a

The present invention comprises improvements in that class of display devices designed particularly for supporting rugs, druggets, or thelike, and especially adapted for use in furniture stores to conveniently display such articles for ready inspection by patrons. i

The invention resides particularly in the peculiar construction of the display sup porting means, whereby the articles to be displayed thereon are supported in an advantageous manner conducive to economy of space, and furthermore, whereby the said articles are adapted to be readily detached from the display support when selected and bought in the transaction of business.

For a full understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to. the following detail description and the accompanying drawings, in which? JAY KEPKE,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of display support embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a top plan View; Fig. 3 is an enlarged side Vi [6W showing more clearly the mounting of the supporting arms and braces uponthe main support therefor, portions of the latter being shown in section; Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line H of Fig.'

. 8; Fig. 5 is a detail sectionalview showing more clearly the mounting of extensions of the arms. Figs. 6 and 7 are diagrammatic views illustrating modified forms of the supporting frame-work for the arms, and Fig. 8

' is a transverse section showing. more clearly the manner of suspending the rugs from the supporting arms therefor. I

Throughout the following detail description and on the several figures ofthe drawings, similar parts are referred to by like reference characters.

Specifically describing the invention in its preferred adaptation the character A de notes inthe drawings the main support or frame-work of the display device. This'support A is designed particularly to be located in spaced relation to the walls of a room,

in the central portion of such room if desir- I'or frame-work able, and consists of a plurality of posts 1 the lower ends of which rest upon and are preferably secured to the floor of the room while the upper ends may be similarly secured to the ceiling thereof. The posts 1 support an by angle plate 6 and the several posts 1 are reinforced by said plates, as well as the frames.

The various arms 5 are designed to support rugs, druggets, or similar articles, each arm being adapted to carry two of such articles suspended therefrom upon-opposite sides by means of: points 6. The points 6 project from opposite sides of each arm 5 and are really projecting extremities of horizontal pins 7 which pass entirely through said arms and are located at short intervals throughout the length thereof.

When the points 6 are engaged with the upper edge portions ofthe rugs it will be noted that each arm of the display support carries two rugs, the same being suspended therefrom at opposite sides as above mentioned. Each arm 5 isconnected at its inner end to the u per frame 2 ofthe support X by means of a pin 8, the upper portion of which is formed with an opening through which said inner end of such arm passes, a suitable collar pin 9 connecting the arm 5 with the pin 8 as shown most clearly in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The

lower portion of the pin 8 is provided with a suitable bearing in the frame 2 formed by an opening and a collar pin 10 prevents displacement of the pin 8 in an evident manner.

Supporting the outer endsof the arms 5 are braces 11, one brace being provided for each arm, and such brace being pivotally connected at its lower end with the frame 8 of the support A while its upper end is connected with the adjacent arm intermediate of the ends of the latter, and about at a central point preferably. The connection between each arm 5 and its brace 11 is peculiar and forms an essential feature of the present invention. Such connection embodies a Y-coupling 12 through the upper portion 12 of which the arm 5 passes and in which said arm is adapted for partial rotary movement. The lower portion 12 of thecoupling 12 is rigidly attached to the upper end of the brace 11 and thus said brace constitutes virtually a supporting member coeperating with the frame 2 to hold the arm 5 in operative position but permitting of rotary movement of said arm in the opening or hearing at the upper end of the pin 8 and in the upper portion of the coupling 12 which virtually forms the bearing, As shown in Fig. e the coupling 12 is preferably made in two parts secured together by rivets or fastenings 18. Between the ends thereof the upper portion 12 of the coupling 12 is formed with a circumferential slot 1 1 and passing transversely through the arm 5, with its ends projecting into the slot 15!, is a locking pin 15. Cooperating with the locking pin 15, and pivoted at their lower ends as shown at 16, to opposite sides of the coupling 12, are looking levers 17. Normally when rugs are suspended from opposite sides of the arm 5, the locking levers 17 are in almost vertical positio ns, as shown in Fig. 3, and shoulders or abutments 17 of said levers are engaged with the opposite projecting extremitles of the locking pin 15, thereby preventing rotation of the arm 5. Springs 18 suitably attached to the coupling 12 engage the levers 17 and normally hold the same in the positions above described, pull cords 19, however, or similar devices, being provided to enable the operator to pull downwardly on the levers 17 in order to disengage either of said levers from the locking pin 5 with which it coeper'ates, and for the purposes now to be described.

In the actual use of the invention it will be apparent that the various arms 5, projecting from opposite sides of the support or frame-work A, as shown in Fig. 2, being pivotally movable may be independently moved so as to readily display the rugs or other articles suspended therefrom. Should a patron buy a certainrug, or should it be desired to remove such rug from the supporting arm 5 carrying the same for any purpose, the operator by pulling upon the pull cord 19 connected with the lever 17 adjacent to said rug may disengage said lever from the adjacent projecting end of the locking pin 15-, thus permitting the arm 5 to rotate in one direction and sufliciently to lower the rug supporting points carrying the rug, thereby slightly lowering the rug and disengaging the same from the points aforesaid. After the rug has dropped to the floor it will be apparent that the weight of the rug which remains suspended from said arm 5 will rotate the arm in the opposite direction and until the projecting ends of the locking pin are both engaged by the levers 17, the arm being thus locked in its normal position. Of course when the pull on the cord 19 is relieved the spring 18 forces the lever 17 adjacent thereto into engagement with the locking pin 15 in the operation above described.

Under some conditions it may be desirable to suspend from one or more of the arms a larger rug or drugget than the length of said arm is designed to support. In this event it is contemplated to provide extensions 20 adapted to be applied. to any one of the arms F and consisting preferably of a tubular body similar in size and outline to the arms 5,a key or plug 21 being partly inserted. into the outer end of the arm 5 to be extended, and the inner end of the extension 20,to thereby rigidly connect such arm with the extension. The extension 20 will of course be provided with points (3 for the same purpose as the points (3 before described and the member 21 may be threaded or formed in any suitable way in order that the extension 20 will rotate with the arm 5 after being applied thereto.

Figs. 6 and 7 are diagrammatic views illustrating modified forms of the supporting frame-work A, that in Fig. 6 being designed for use in connection with the arms 5 and their parts when the invention is constructed particularly to be supported by the walls at the corners of a room, while the construction in Fig. 7 is designed to be used where the display means is to be located against a wall but not at a corner of the room. The frame-work or support in Fig. 6 is denoted at A and in Fig. 7 at A. lVith respect to the supports A and A. it may be noted that any substantial bracing means for the same may be provided and such would be somewhat different from that employed in Figs. 1 and 2.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is:

1. In display means of the class described, the combination with a support, of a plurality of arms pivotally connected at their inner ends to the support, and provided with means for suspension of an article for display DHPOSGS, said arms being rotatable to permit of detaclnnent of the suspended article therefrom.

2. in display means of the class described, in combination, a support, a plurality of horizontal arms mounted upon said support for horizontal swinging movement, means for suspending articles from said arms for display purposes, and means permitting rotation of the arms on the support to effect detachment of the suspended articles from said arms.

3. In display means of the class described, in combination, a support, a plurality of arms mounted on said support for horizontal swinging movement, suspension devices tal swinging movement, suspension devices projecting from said arms, means permitting of rotation of the arms to detach articles from the suspension devices, locking means normally preventing such rotation of the arms, and an operating device for said locking means to permit rotation of the arms. V 1

5. In display means of the class described, in combination, a support embodying upper and lower frames, arms pivotally connected at their inner ends to the upper frame for horizontal swinging movement, braces pivoted at their inner ends to the lower frame, a coupling connecting each brace at its upper end with an-adjacent arm and per mitting rotation of said arm, suspension devices carried by the arms, locklng means normally preventlng rotatlon of the arms,

&

and means for actuating said locking means to permit rotation of the arms to detach suspended articles therefrom.

6. In display means of the class described, in combination, a support, arms pivotally connected at their inner ends to said support for horizontal swinging movement and having connection with said support, braces pivotally connected at their inner ends to said support, couplings connecting the outer ends of the braces with the adjacent arms and provided with bearings permitting of rotation of the arms with respect thereto, a locking pin for each arm, locking levers pivoted to the coupling and engaging said locking pin to prevent rotation of the arm, suspension devices carried by the arm, and operating means, connected with the locking levers for disengaging the same from the locking pin with which they cooperate, and in order to permit rotation of the adjacent arm to detach a suspended article from the suspension devices.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

. GEORGE JAY KEPKE. Witnesses:

J. W. SHAVER, N. V. ELLIOTT. 

